prosecution

American  

[pros-i-kyoo-shuhn] / ˌprɒs ɪˈkyu ʃən /

noun

1. Law.

   1. the institution and carrying on of legal proceedings against a person.

   2. the body of officials by whom such proceedings are instituted and carried on.

2. the following up of something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion.

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prosecution British  

/ ˌprɒsɪˈkjuːʃən /

noun

1. the act of prosecuting or the state of being prosecuted

2. 1. the institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a person

   2. the proceedings brought in the name of the Crown to put an accused on trial

3. the lawyers acting for the Crown to put the case against a person Compare defence

4. the following up or carrying on of something begun, esp with a view to its accomplishment or completion

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Other Word Forms

• nonprosecution noun

Etymology

Origin of prosecution

First recorded in 1555–65; from Late Latin prōsecūtiōn-, stem of prōsecūtiō “follow-up”; equivalent to prosecute + -ion

Example Sentences

It said it would not have been appropriate to take forward a prosecution due to the circumstances and "extremely vulnerable nature" of the owners.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Each successive prosecution advanced his cause, as documented in these pages at the time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Malicious prosecution cases are similarly hard to bring because they require proof that a prosecutor had malicious intentions, not just a bad case.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

The prosecution was later thrown out and Halligan’s appointment deemed illegal.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

This was an accident and a witch hunt; the prosecution felt the defense had insulated itself from science and reality.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• government
• prosecutor